The BIG Interview ---- Ayrton Mills (222)

So a new season, and the same old interviews.... Our first for 2013 is undoubtedly one of the stars of the early season, taking plenty of chequereds and points which has propelled the white top to the dizzying heights of superstar. He is named after a F1 legend, which I think might be Alain Prost..... anyways here's Mr Mills (222)

On the way to a final win at Arena 2012

NAME: Ayrton James Mills
HOMETOWN: Southampton
AGE: 20
F2 DEBUT (Year/Track): Taunton Late 2011
NUMBER: 222
PREVIOUS FORMULAE RACED: None
CURRENT F2: Polleysport DP 21
HIGHEST GRADE ACHIEVED: Superstar :)
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE: Rising to superstar this year
JOB: General Trader
SPONSORS: Tip Top Bodyworks Ltd, A and S Commercials
FAVOURITE TRACK: Skeg Vegas can't beat it! Apart from the 3 and a half hour drive!
TRACKS RACED: NIR Brum Hednesford Skeg Taunton Bristol Buxton Arena Essex

JH: How did you get involved in racing?

He had to get a move on - it's 3 and half hours home!

AM: Dad used to race National Hot Rods amongst other things, sister raced Minis and my brother raced Superstox and a couple other bits.  We got out of racing for about 8 years but Murray Jones (ex276) introduced us to F2s towards the end of 2011 so we decided to get one.

JH: What made you want to race?

AM: I've always wanted to race but never got the chance then when Murray got us into F2s, Dad really liked the formula and it spiraled from there really.

JH: Talk us through your first meeting...

AM: Oh dear oh dear I try to forget! We had been to Arena practicing once before and thought that I was ready for a race!! I was full of confidence and it was my fiancé 21st birthday, so we weere all in a good mood, that is until I drove myself into the wall coming out the corner and it was game over as we realised I wasn't ready lol!!

On route to the QR win at Hedno

JH: A little birdy told me you are very lucky to be here right now, you almost didn't make your 14th Birthday.... tell us what happened......

Down the hill at Mendips

AM: When I was 13 I kept blacking out, first off I didn't say anything to anyone then it got more frequent so I told my parents. Mum being Mum read up on the internet and worried herself, so we made an appointment to go and get checked (good job really!!). I was hooked up to a ECG machine which monitors your heart beat, while I was on the machine it happened, the doctors face dropped and everything turned serious, I was having a heart attack!!! They left me hooked up to this machine and told my Mum to go home and get some stuff as I was going to be kept it for a while! I had SVT (
Supraventricular Tachycardia), My heart was beating too fast and then stopping repeatedly. I had a major heart operation and lived to tell the tale. Many don't so if in doubt get checked out!!!!!!!

JH: Whats been the best bits and low points of your career so far?

AM: The best bits so far have been the beginning of this season, things have just clicked and the car is superb! The low points? Apart from the Taunton lol? Every meeting last year before we got the DP car and when I rolled at NIR and got collected in the roof! But that was more of a unlucky / very lucky point.

JH: What is your ambition to achieve in the sport? 
AM: Obviously I want to win a title, so does every one, but to hold superstar would be good!

JH: In the opening grading period you won more heats than National Points Champion, Gordon Moodie (7).... How does this make you feel?

AM: When I saw this the other day it put a massive smile on my face, it's a great achievement in its self to win anything more than Moodie, I know I had an advantage though! 

JH: How will you approach superstar? 

AM: I will tell you after the first race at Skegness! Haven't a clue try my best that's all I can do!

JH: Do you have any thank yous?

AM: Of course a massive thank you to Mum and Dad...Another to DP (Dave Polley (38)) and Polleysport for the help! Tip Top Ltd for the paint!

And a big thanks to Cardiac Risk in the Young  (CRY) www.c-r-y.org.uk for saving my life!

Cheers Ayrton!

A Brum epiphany....

So there I was on Friday afternoon, stressed to the eyeballs at work, looking forward to a weekend of doing bugger all.Washing the car, listening to Argyle's relegation dogfight, cooking a bit of tea and watching Jessie J have a nervous breakdown over pressing a friggin button all on the agenda, until a text asking Brum tomorrow.... I thought about it, and then said, why the fuck not! This was before a glance at the entry.... 73 cars.... crikey moses! Brum had a line up that befitted its location for once. Question was would it be 73 cars all in!!!!

So Saturday morning came. Glorious sunshine and for the first time this year, the waterproofs stayed in the boot and out came the shades as a cloudless A30 greeted us. However, as we overtook the Moss Motorsport entourage, it was clear that the sunshine hadn't hit Dan Moss (797). However a game of cat and mouse came along for the Moons and ourselves as tweets flew up and down the M5 about locations..

As we entered Birmingham we noticed a rather large police presence around St Andrews. Dirty, Dirty Leeds were playing the Blues. It was at this point we followed the F1 of Nigel Ha Ha Harrary (45), lovingly nicknamed by the K Foundation. I expect a Beaks Video now!

So onto the racing...

Bearing in mind Bristol has 3 heats with 48 cars, most voices in the pits were whether it would be 3 heats or 2. Considering the busy programme, it was clear, 2 heats, with 12 going through in each.

Heat 1 was won by superstar bound Ayrton Mills (222) at a canter. Ayrton has won more heats than Moodie in the last grading period, so another one chalked up before the wins get a little harder to achieve. Having giving him his Jho sticker he requested but the postman neglected to send to his door, someone from his time acosted me to let me know about his back story. At the age of 12, Ayrton suffered a heart attack, similar to Fabrice Muamba, the Bolton footballer who had a cardiac arrest on the pitch during the Bolton/Spurs cup tie last year... his car now adorns the charity "Cardiac Risk in the Young" or CRY as it is known. Astonishing to think that 12 children die every week suddenly. You can find out more about it here
He's one lucky boy!

Heat 2 saw Darren Clark (571) ease the blow of losing the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy to take a win at Brum, something I always seem to see whenever I'm at Brum... The Consolation saw Justin Fisher (315) give the travelling Westcountry support some cheer on what was the "Club 21" away day trophy.

The Final had every big name in tarmac (bar a few drivers who stayed for easy points!) so it had the makings of a cracker. Plenty of quick lower graders and race winners. After 2 very poor starts where the blues were in the yellows, and then 2nd start where the reds and blues were in the yellows. Appalling starting which doesn't a smooth race. Despite this, it was Aryton Mills (222) and Tom Clark (575) sped away, almost to the point where the Audi pace car got tagged... Another yellow flag,which saw Drew Lammas (341) try his damndest to get in despite being the cause of the stoppage and the Audi Pace Car was replaced by the HMS Ark Royal, sorry Mercedes. Another appalling start saw both Mills and Clark get over taken by Dave Sansom (352) and Lee Carlin (963) (who incidently under this keyboard steward would have been starting from the back of the grid for having an incorrectly graded aerofoil. The rulebook clearly states that your aerofoil should be the colour of your grade. Carlin's was predominately blue.) Both clearly jumped the start which due to hesitancy brought about by the pace car starter who looked like he was doing Night Fever! Only Neil Truran can do that. So the yellows go off into the distanceand take the chequered, and the Steward brings forth the dodgy jumpers, and Kelvyn Whalley (101) becomes beneficiary in chief, and Birmingham's man of the moment, gold roof Mickey Brennan (1) with Carlin and Sansom both unhappy....

So with the GN going the way of Brennan, it was pack away the toys and off up the M6 you go to Cannock with ya!

Points of Order

The DJ firing up the 90's Dance Classics, can't beat a bit of Maxx or Corona. I was transported back to the Sunflower Centre in Pensilva, in my youth club, waiting to play pool with me 20p and  bag of penny chews with some Panda pops to wash it down with.

Well as people know, I am not a fan of Formula 1, but the added attraction to the mix of the new guns of an old gun with a point to prove, a certain Mr Speak certainly made the racing interesting. The whole travelling roadshow feel gives it a bit of a WWE feel to it. Plenty of storylines for the numpties on Stoxnet et al too mull upon. The same faces week in, week out, not for me sorry. However the 1's were top class. Plenty of leathering of the front bumper and the final was something else. Was Tom Harris (84) guilty of doing a Gordon, following in Speaky and getting away with it?? Who knows...There were bumpers flying everywhere, a gaggle of stars changing positions in every corner....Don't believe me?

Have a look at the video.....



Did Mark Moon (aka the Cab Stig) and his Cabtec empire design the new John Lund wing...

Who chopped the whiskers off the Tractor that was towing Junior off, as it wedged the 515 into the armco.........

Dave Goddard invoking the spirit of Greenhalf, as he was obviously betrothed his "Dutch for Beginners" unto the spectacled commentator....

Awful news that one of the transporters carrying a F1 caught fire on the way down, with the bus and the spare and car totally destroyed. Thankfully all the team were accounted for and no one was hurt, but such a shame....

As everyone head towards Hedno or home, I aimed for the later, not a great fan of Hednesford, plus Lampy had to go home and pick up the family to travel up to Birmingham to go and see Pink......Na na na na, na na na na na.

Laters y'alll

England's Green and Chequered Win

Good Friday, and with the Westcountry awakening to sunshine, all roads headed north, to the Primo Green Brahampton Northfield on the International  Raceway, 

As we moved further north a light dusting fell away to the proof of that anything north of Southampton got a true deluge of snow, as the Horton Road to the stadium, looked like 2 badly iced Christmas cakes, such was the drift....
So an attendance in the 50's, not seen since the European weekend the previous year, and for a domestic meeting not seen since, last Easter!

So the first went away, before Westcountry pair Jamie Beere (954) and Jay Tomkin (290) had a little clinch. After Lordy Gordy (7) gave an opening gambit with the bumper, made his RCE go sick the following corner.  Local chap Peter Hobbs (8) took a win from yellow, something things never change at NIR!

The second heat saw a quite tasty tussle between Golden Mickey and the Hurricane Hooper, trying to put in a few blows away from home, however it was Brennan who got Neil in a spin. Up front, the top yellow to watch in the country, Aaron Vaight  (184) led them away, before the how is he blue, blue top Kelvyn Whalley (101) took over

The consi was one of looking where Moodie was. However he got hooked up behind Daniel Fallows (581) slowing his progress down. Track Champion at NIR, Mike Green (115) took the duster on a trip.

Popus Colinus Higmanus  DCCLXXVIII

A 36 car final was what the people wanted, and it was what the people got as Autospeed, said, 3 12's are 36, lets have a good un! Two dropped out before the start, but when things got rolling all eyes turned to the ex James Thackra DK car, under the hands of Ashley England (846), a new driver, with a racing heritage behind him. He sped away, and was in a half lap lead fairly early. It looked in the bag for a flag to flag, until travelling Scottish yellow top Wullie Draeger (102) got the mother of all blow jobs, as white smoke embellished the racetrack.
Colin Higman was not in residence
With the grid closed, England got a perfect start, with plenty of daylight between the chasing pack of Moodie and Green. As those watched the red top battle behind, England had pulled away from Vaight and was in the distance. Chequered collected, and a decent last bender from Moodie on Green saw a very entertaining final which had all spectators clapping, albeit slightly muffled with gloved hands.... Most headed home, to warmth or to Skeg so didn't see Whalley win the GN

Points of Order....

Happy shit roads to the westcountry day! Usually, we're going against the tide and never meet  traffic. With the opportunity to Co-Drive, Uncle Lampy, took a punt on A43 for way home. It was a good punt, otherside of Swindon in under an hour. However the next 2, trying to go through said Wiltshire town was a bit of a chore. My predicament gained no sympathy from racing brothers and Ant n' Dec tribute act Duncan and PJ Moss. "Unlucky!" was Mr Moss Jnr's helpful retort.

Primo, for all intents and purposes,  is a strawberry and kiwi based energy drink. It wasn't a bad drop...very sweet!

Diggy Smith (116) made his Saloon comeback in style, making his presence felt, in what looked like an over ironed banger!

Proof that BMW drivers are on the whole inconsiderate, 3 beemers asked to move cars, including this numpty. On a bank holiday, people are going on holiday to the coast, often leave their brains at home. We had a beemer doing an undertake, so as a fellow German car driver, I kept him in the middle lane for 3 junctions. Coming into the roadworks, I like the rest, slowed to 50mph. Now coming up behind me lights flashing, was not a BMW. Not even an Audi, or a chavved up Focus. It was a Norman Gormless type in a brown Fiat Multipla, a bit like the OAP mobile that Top Gear did. He was josticulating wildy ordering me to move over. Stood fast and stuck to the limit did I, forcing him to go the high side. Once the national speed limit sign came, I gave it the beans, josticulated back, and the spirit of Christianity swamping the air on Good Friday was restored....

Myself and Lampy considered the fact that I Drove All Night is our racing roadtrip song. Cyndi Lauper or Roy Orbision its all good. Although Roy, probably wouldn't have driven all night as he was registered blind. What is disconcerting is that potetnially he did, or his guide dog did. He then proceeded to wake said lady from her sleep and make love to her. Presuming consent had been given and that she was fully aware of this, otherwise its rape Roy, the achievement that he actually got his end away, with a semi comotosed woman, and still had full faculties in order after. Most women just mumble an expletive and roll over.

As everyone rushed off to Skeg... I rushed off to the car, switched the blowers on full and heat to max!

A nice report from Skeg should be heading our way soon enough, in the meantime, the meetings come thick and fast...

The End.... continued.....

Just check the date.... don't you feel like a numpty!

The End

It is with a heavy heart that the blog is coming to an end.

I have been offered a commentary job, and as a result, this would be a conflict of interest....
It's been fun!
More details will follow later today

Wheels falling off?? Not on ya nelly!

Hot on the heels of various snow closures over this weekend comes the startling news, which had been on the cards, that Birmingham Wheels, the home of motorsport in the second city is very much under threat, as crippling rents threaten to evict all the tenants on site. This article goes into more detail

So what can we do to register our displeasure.

Sign the petition

Email Paul Gerrard

and lobby Birmingham Councillors using the following numbers
Carol Edwards (Conservative group office) 0121 303 2656
Sue Morris (Liberal Democrats group office) 0121 303 4204
Rose Horsfall (Labour group office) 0121 303 5147

With your help, we can prevent one of the best tarmac tracks in the country from the bulldozer

Full Format. Maximum (almost!) Moodie. Magnificent Meeting!

I do like Smeatharpe Stadium, the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final!  

It is my favourite track, the racing is always good there, the facilities aren't bad, I can always the see the action. So this is gonna be a VERY good year for me. A great track for the World, home comforts, no strange speaking locals, a decent pint that I know. Face it, the meetings so far up the line have been, a little lacklustre, lacking in drivers and general apathy! The weather forecasting neighsayers said it would be cold and wet, however it was not so!
So with a smug grin, with a glorious early spring sunshine awaking me through my window. Pensilva (half a mile up the road) was white. Dobwalls (8 miles) was grey and cold, as Lampy Cabs took me up to Smeatharpe Stadium, the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final! The opening meeting is often a bellweather on what kind of season you are going to have, and from the initial hype generated by the Purple People, entries flirted with near 50 mark. One of those entries was a surprise, possibly lost, was one G Moodie Esq (7), who'd come along to play...

Checking Twitter (whilst not driving, remember texting and driving kills, kids) on the way up the A30, I receieved a few tweets from people crossing East to West along the A303 to Smeatharpe Stadium, the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final! As the likes of Lively Linfield and recent stunt twitterman Ritchie Mead (596) passed Stonehenge...in blizzard conditions, that Buxton would call light sleet. Thankfully as those coming from the west reached Exeter Airport, we were greeted with a glorious sunshine filled sky.

Indeed Mr Mead was a recipient of a Jho Stoxblog sticker, which were distributed in their glorious goodness to all and sundry, to the point that the batch I've got, has all but one left, ready for distribution at Sheffield next weekend.

So with 40 cars in the pits, and a full format being run, with Autospeed continuing the tradition of the final being the busiest race of the day, and we were going to be treated to a 30 car final, with a 10-10-10 format of qualifiers. Whilst applauding said move from my anorak ridden spot on the back bank of Smeatharpe Stadium, the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final! !

Opening heat time.... James Horwell(602) sped away. Looked the part in the ex Bradbury higman. He had been gradually getting into the formula for the past couple of seasons. Part of a racing family who have had success in Stock Rods, Bangerstox and mostly Saloon Stock Cars. His performances have been gradually been getting better in his all too infrequent appearances in the past, so it a pleasant surprise to have the 602 car collected the chequered for the first time. Chris Bradbury (886) was a distant second

Just before, kissy kissy!

Whereas a white top took a flag to flag, the whites out front in heat 2 weren't so lucky. Plenty of yellow flags saw Mr Moodie (7) look imperious and sped away into the distance. Both Neil Hooper (676) and Adam Rubery (700) were a considerable distance behind. Meanwhile, the new king of Chaos, Dangerous Dale Moon (302) was given a large sticker to put on his nerf plate, on the provisio that it would get good exposure as he's always in an accident.... that he did as joined Ryan Hoskin (991) in a romantic clinch on the Honiton Bend... As is the ridiculous tradition of Lively, when Moodie wins, is it "Scotland the Brave" or the "Gay Gordon", but its something Scottish and annoying. What about a bit of the Proclaimers, or a spot of Runrig. And why stop it there, "Please Don't Go"from the steward to Mr 886. "Floral Dance" for St Agnes Silver Band trumpeter Liam Rowe (605) and "Combine Harvester" for Andrew Bennett (830). Better music is required at Smeatharpe Stadium, the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final!

A consolation.... remember them..... was to follow. Mostly comprising yellows, blue and sole red top, fresh from going on the piste again (makes a change he's usually on the piss) Liam Rowe (605), who stormed through a took a win from Semtex Sansom (352). His first for sometime at Smeatharpe Stadium, the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final!

30 cars on track. Final time, and all eyes at the back, it was Tom Clark (575) fresh from an impressive debut at St Day who led them away. Led them away so well, that he was tacking onto the back of the reds. Over took Bill Batten (167) and was setting about Jack Aldridge (921) when yellows came out. A clear half a lap lead from him and any potential suitors to his crown were way down the highstreet. On the restart, lead eroded, and with Sansom for company. Indeed Sansom took up the running, as the charging Moodie came through. Every start and restart he'd push through the field, pushing cars to the side, like snow being ploughed near Buxton. Love him or hate him, in a Justin Bieber style, Moodie is one of the best starters in Brisca, and this played to his advantage. However as the boards came out, those with the knowledge, knew that Sansom is no lover of reputation. He will stop you as best as he can, just ask Speak, Farrell, Gilbert et al who brushed amongst. So when faced with the 7 machine bearing down. Sammo stood on the brakes, almost causing the 7 car to half spin. With the field now bunched up behind, Moodie moved Sansom wide causing the train to follow, including a lapped Nathan Maidment (935) who spectularly hit a marker tyre, courtesy of said Mr Sansom. Out come the yellows with one to go, and over goes Maidment to do a "Why I Oughta" hand shake to the Plymouthian, which earnt him a Wadgey ear bash and an early bath. Fellow TART Duncan Moss (797) was also trailered by the team, for "moral support"! So with the restart it was Moodie from Sansom, from Bradbury and James Rygor (783). With not many to run too. Creeping round the Honiton bend, Moodie just slowed to a near halt, causing a breaking chain, allowing Mr Moodie to give it the beans and see the green. Moodie took the win, the same as he did at the same meeting 5 years ago, with a smash and grab raid. On the Mic with Crispen he admitted he liked Taunton as one of his favourite tracks....omnious for September... when Smeatharpe Stadium, is the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final!

Choose a metaphor. It was THAT close!

Such was the dominance of Moodie in the heat and final, many people were beginning to speak of the unspeakable, a full format Moodie Max. Most Heat, Final and Handicap (still call it this, Grandad's legacy) maximum often take a yellow or two to do. This was no exception! It looked as potentially the maximum was on. A nice mix of newbies, inexperienced and plenty of blues and yellows fighting for the same bit of tarmac meant yellows were a coming, but also it meant Moodie's actual handicap was about 4 car lengths. Bradbury hit the front after Sansom led the early stages. With the lap board running down it was clear that His Gordyness was coming, and coming fast. With 3 to go it was Bradbury who had started to pull away slightly. However Moodie seemed to find a second wind and was in a last bend lunge distance. That he did, but Bradders rode it out, crossing the line, a rizla's width, a fag paper, a gnats gonad, a hair's breadth, a Newton Abbot based Stock Car Driver (sorry Eddie, Justin & Bill) between the 2 superstars. In time 0.006. Absolutely nothing....

Everyone left the track in total awe, in what was a truly magnificent meeting, just hope not peaked too soon, as Smeatharpe Stadium, is the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final!


Points of Order

A very droll birthday greeting from one Lively Linfield to one J Palmer of HMP Channings Wood. You'd never hear Gus Honeybunn (btw that is Ruth "This Morning" Langsford in the back)  do that!

In fact, Mr Linfield was in a quite feisty mood, claiming that tarmac racing wasn't dead and certainly not at Taunton, that the racing in the South West was awesome, and that Birmingham was rubbish and that Cowdenbeath looked rubbish on the telly. Ok, he might not have actually said the last bit, but Steven needs to calm down, as it will be a competition to see whether me or him actually explodes first...

On St Patrick's Day, it was certainly a day for taking in plenty of the Black Stuff... Mr Moodie is incorrectly graded for a pint of Guinness. Still, at least he can have a pint of it, unlike Messrs Hoskin and Moss.

Also, speaking of PJ (979) and Duncan (797) Moss, much merriment was made of mine and dad Jeremy's chance meeting at local shop of shite, Trago Mills. Alleged rumours that we had a cup of tea and a cake were unfounded. We actually discussed the finer points of how to get to Sheffield and other such racing delights, so ner PJ and Duncan....

Did I mention that Smeatharpe Stadium, is the home of the 2013 Brisca F2 World Final!
I might be a tad giddy about the season to come, but I'm not sure...